Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-01-09
SUPERSTITIOUS WOMEN.
some Queer Ideas that Pervade
Housek eel ping Circles.

Housekeeping Circles.
Women are always somewhat super.
sensitive about their work. There is
probably no point ON which this super
sensitiveness is more displayed than that
of housekeeping. To be called slack
housekeeper stings a woman to the
quick, no matter how deserved the inn
pea chment may be; yet the moment a
woman knows that she is exciting her.
sef in her housekeeping to do more than
she otherwise would, for fear that "peo-
pie will talk" that moment she begins
to endanger her whole theory of life.
1t is this keeping house SO as to please
society, and to placate "the neighbors, "
which is at the bottom Of much OF the
overwork and behttling of the mind
which are the bane of the housekeepers.
"Don't try to keep your house SO
Clean" says clever writer, cor else a
stepmcther W, II bring p your children. 4"
THIS simple but strong presentation Of
the matter throws aood Of light upon
it. 1t intimates that a hoaseketper has
duties besides keeping house, and para
mount to that one.
A houset eeper is usually wife. A
wife, besides seeing that her husband
has clean rooms to live in, wellcooked
meals and neat clothes, shonld make
herself companion to him. His mind
is usually sharpened by his activity in
business or professional life. She must
see to it that her own mind is kept as
sharp as possible by reading and study.
She should try to remain, so far as her
efforts can go, what she probably was in
the ,ys OF their courtship-the most
interesting person in the world for him
10 be with. Above all things, she must
keep herself well and strong, or else
good spirits, which are the most charm.
ing attribute in either man or woman,
will be lacking.
Then she is usually mother. Her
children are full of questions. They de-
sire her companionship and her conver-
sation. Whose else can be so good for
hem as hersg She should see to it that
they have those in full measure and of
good quality.
She is also member of some social
circle. The greatest work that woman
can do to improve the social fabric is, of
course, in the home; but there are many
outside duties which no self.respecting
woman should neglect, and for which
she should have q portion OF her time
and strength.
The keeping of the house, then, is
only one of he several vocations Of the
housekeeper, and subordinate to those
of the wife. the mother and the social
being. That is to say, the keeping of
the home in which family and friends
are to be fed and sheltered is the
only means to the securing of their
health and happiness. just as soon as
a woman begins to think of the cleaning
and cooking as ends in themselves, and
devotes herself to them to such an ex-
tent that her usefulness in higher spheres
is impaired, she is making mistake
Keep the balance true. Remember that
the objects of our earthly toll are 10
keep our loved ones well and happy.
Relegate conversation aboutthe house.
hold affairs to the background, unless
the humorous side is uppermost. See
that good meals, plain and Substantial,
are served. no matter what cleaning or
other work is going on Do not tire
yourself out with trying to do double
work in day. By system this can be
avoided. Never mind what "the neigh
bors" say. Keep continually in mind
that you are keeping house not for the
sake of keeping house, but to make q
home in which husband and children
and friends shall thrive and rejoice con
tinually Kate Epson Clarke.